New Guinea Impatiens plant named ‘Dongiwirowhi 20’

ABSTRACT

freely flowering habit; semi-double flowers that are white in color; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Impatiens hawkeri.

Cultivar denomination: ‘DONGIWIROWHI 20’.

STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY INVENTOR & APPLICANT/ASSIGNEE

An European Community Plant Breeder's Rights application for the instantplant was filed by the Applicant/Assignee, Dümmen Group B.V. of De Lier,The Netherlands on Oct. 29, 2020, application number 2020/2735. Foreignpriority is not claimed to this application.

The Inventor and Applicant/Assignee assert that no publications noradvertisements relating to sales, offers for sale or public distributionoccurred more than one year prior to the effective filing date of thisapplication. Any information about the claimed plant would have beenobtained from a direct or indirect disclosure from the Inventor and/orApplicant/Assignee. Inventor and Applicant/Assignee claim a prior artexception under 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(1) for disclosure and/or sales prior tothe filing date but less than one year prior to the effective filingdate.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of NewGuinea Impatiens plant, botanically known as Impatiens hawkeri andhereinafter referred to by the name ‘Dongiwirowhi 20’.

The new Impatiens plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Koka, Ethiopia and Encinitas, Calif. Theobjective of the breeding program is to create new freely branching andearly and freely flowering New Guinea Impatiens plants with attractivedouble flowers and good garden performance.

The new Impatiens plant originated from a cross-pollination made by theInventor in November, 2016 in Koka, Ethiopia of a proprietary selectionof Impatiens hawkeri identified as code number NN14-012710-005, notpatented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection ofImpatiens hawkeri identified as code number NN-1322, not patented, asthe male, or pollen, parent. The new Impatiens plant was discovered andselected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within theprogeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouseenvironment in Encinitas, Calif. in April, 2017.

Asexual reproduction of the new Impatiens plant by terminal vegetativecuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Rheinberg, Germanysince June, 2017 has shown that the unique features of this newImpatiens plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successivegenerations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Impatiens have not been observed under all possiblecombinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. Thephenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditionssuch as temperature, daylight and light intensity without, however, anyvariance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Dongiwirowhi 20’. Thesecharacteristics in combination distinguish ‘Dongiwirowhi 20’ as a newand distinct Impatiens plant:

-   -   1. Upright to somewhat outwardly spreading and uniformly        mounding plant habit.    -   2. Moderately vigorous growth habit.    -   3. Freely branching habit.    -   4. Glossy dark green-colored leaves.    -   5. Freely flowering habit.    -   6. Semi-double flowers that are white in color.    -   7. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Impatiens can be compared to plants of the femaleparent selection. Plants of the new Impatiens differ primarily fromplants of the female parent selection in flower color as flowers ofplants of the new Impatiens are white in color whereas flowers of plantsof the female parent selection are white tinged with pink in color.

Plants of the new Impatiens can be compared to plants of the male parentselection. Plants of the new Impatiens differ primarily from plants ofthe male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Impatiens have lighter green-colored leaves        than plants of the male parent selection.    -   2. Plants of the new Impatiens have larger flowers than plants        of the male parent selection.    -   3. Flowers of plants of the new Impatiens are white in color        whereas flowers of plants of the male parent selection are light        carmine and pinkish lavender bi-colored.

Plants of the new Impatiens can be compared to plants of Impatienshawkeri ‘Doimwirored’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 31,564. Inside-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Impatiens differ primarilyfrom plants of ‘Doimwirored’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Impatiens have smaller flowers than plants        of ‘Doimwirored’.    -   2. Flowers of plants of the new Impatiens are white in color        whereas flowers of plants of ‘Doimwirored’ are dark red in        color.

Plants of the new Impatiens can also be compared to plants of Impatienshawkeri ‘Moorea’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 9,147. Inside-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Impatiens differ primarilyfrom plants of ‘Moorea’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Impatiens are more vigorous than plants of        ‘Moorea’.    -   2. Plants of the new Impatiens have semi-double flowers whereas        plants of ‘Moorea’ have single flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Impatiens plant showing the colors as true as it isreasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color valuescited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describethe colors of the new Impatiens plant.

The photograph on the first sheet (FIG. 1) is a side perspective view ofa typical flowering plant of ‘Dongiwirowhi 20’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet (FIG. 2) is a close-up view of atypical flowering plant of ‘Dongiwirowhi 20’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurementsand values describe plants grown during the summer in 16.5-cm containersin a polyethylene-covered greenhouse in Encinitas, Calif. and undercultural practices typical of commercial New Guinea Impatiensproduction. During the production of the plants, day temperaturesaveraged 25° C., night temperatures averaged 20° C. and light levelsranged from 4,000 to 4,500 lux. Plants were 14 weeks old when thephotographs and description were taken. In the following description,color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society ColourChart, 2015 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionarysignificance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Impatiens hawkeri ‘Dongiwirowhi 20’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Impatiens            hawkeri identified as code number NN14-012710-005, not            patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of Impatiens            hawkeri identified as code number NN-1322, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By terminal vegetative cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer and winter.—About five to            seven days at day temperatures about 27° C. and night            temperatures about 20° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer and            winter.—About three weeks at day temperatures about 27° C.            and night temperatures about 20° C.        -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; typically white in color,            actual color of the roots is dependent on substrate            composition, water quality, fertilizers, substrate            temperature and age of roots.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Upright to somewhat outwardly            spreading and uniformly mounding plant habit; broad inverted            triangle in overall shape; freely branching habit; bushy and            dense appearance; moderately vigorous growth habit and            moderate growth rate; strong and sturdy plants.        -   Plant height.—About 28.5 cm.        -   Plant diameter.—About 46 cm.-   Lateral branch description:    -   -   Branching habit.—Freely branching with about five to seven            primary lateral branches each with multiple secondary            branches.        -   Length.—About 26 cm.        -   Diameter.—About 1.4 cm.        -   Internode length.—About 8 cm to 11 cm.        -   Strength.—Strong, flexible.        -   Aspect.—Initially upright to about 45° from vertical.        -   Texture and luster.—Smooth, glabrous; moderately glossy.        -   Color, developing and developed.—Close to 144A.-   Leaf description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Typically in whorls or opposite; simple; leaves            are durable.        -   Length.—About 8.5 cm.        -   Width.—About 3.75 cm.        -   Shape.—Broadly ovate to elliptic.        -   Apex.—Acuminate.        -   Base.—Attenuate.        -   Margin.—Serrate with ciliation.        -   Texture and luster, upper surface.—Smooth, glabrous;            coriaceous; moderately glossy.        -   Texture and luster, lower surface.—Smooth, glabrous;            coriaceous; slightly glossy.        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate; arcuate.        -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Darker green than            147A. Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 147B. Fully            expanded leaves, upper surface: Darker green than between            147A and N189A; midvein, proximally, close to 144A to 144B,            and distally, close to 147A; and lateral venation, darker            green than between 147A and N189A. Fully expanded leaves,            lower surface: Darker green than 147B; midvein, proximally,            close to 144A to 144B, and distally, close to 144A; and            lateral venation, close to 146A.        -   Petiole length.—About 3.25 cm.        -   Petiole diameter.—About 3 mm.        -   Petiole texture and luster, upper and lower            surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous; moderately glossy.        -   Petiole color, upper and lower surfaces.—Close to 144A to            144B.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower type and flowering habit.—Semi-double axillary            flowers that are rounded to slightly rectangular in shape;            freely flowering habit, typically about four to six flower            buds and opened flowers per lateral branch; flowers are            positioned above and beyond the foliar plane, flowers            typically face mostly upright to outwardly to slightly            nodding.        -   Flower longevity.—Flowers typically last about four to seven            days on the plant under greenhouse conditions; petals            self-cleaning, gynoecium persistent.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Natural flowering season.—Year-round under greenhouse            conditions; in the garden, flowering from spring until fall            in California; early flowering habit, plants typically begin            flowering about ten weeks from unrooted cuttings.        -   Flower buds.—Length: About 1.1 cm. Diameter: About 7 mm.            Shape: Ovoid. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; glossy.            Color: Close to 144A to 144B.        -   Flower diameter.—About 5.2 cm by 5.7 cm.        -   Flower depth.—About 2.2 cm.        -   Petals.—Quantity and arrangement: Typically eight to ten in            two whorls; if ten petals are present, there are one banner            petal, two lateral petals and two lower petals per whorl.            Timer and outer whorls: Length, banner petal: About 3 cm.            Length, lateral petals: About 3 cm. Length, lower petals:            About 3 cm. Width, banner petal: About 3.6 cm. Width,            lateral petals: About 2.6 cm. Width, lower petals: About            2.6 cm. Shape, banner petal: Broadly obcordate. Shape,            lateral and lower petals: Roughly cordate. Apex, all petals:            Emarginate, partially notched. Base, all petals: Attenuate.            Margin, all petals: Entire, moderately undulate. Texture and            luster, all petals, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,            glabrous; slightly glossy; iridescent. Color, all petals:            When opening and fully opened, upper surface: Close to            NN155D; venation, close to NN155D; color becoming closer to            NN155D variably tinged with close to 144A. When opening and            fully opened, lower surface: Close to NN155D; venation,            close to NN155D; banner midvein, close to 144A; color            becoming closer to NN155D variably tinged with close to            144A.        -   Sepals.—Quantity and arrangement: Three in a single whorl;            two laterals are opposite and the third modified into an            elongated spur. Lateral sepal length: About 4 mm. Lateral            sepal width: About 4 mm. Lateral sepal shape: Broadly            deltoid to ovate. Lateral sepal apex: Acuminate. Lateral            sepal base: Truncate. Lateral sepal margin: Entire, not            undulate. Lateral sepal texture and luster, upper and lower            surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; slightly glossy. Lateral sepal            color, upper surface: Close to 144B to 144C. Lateral sepal            color, lower surface: Close to 144A to 144B. Spurred sepal            length (not including spur): About 1.2 cm. Spurred sepal            width (proximally): About 1.2 cm. Spurred sepal shape            (proximally): Broadly ovate. Spurred sepal base: Truncate.            Spurred sepal margin (proximally): Entire, not undulate.            Spurred sepal texture and luster (proximally), upper and            lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; slightly glossy. Spurred            sepal color (proximally), upper and lower surfaces: Close to            NN155D; at the apex, close to 144A. Spur length: About            3.2 cm. Spur diameter: At flower, about 2 mm; at apex, less            than 1 mm. Spur shape: Acicular, curved. Spur texture and            luster: Smooth, glabrous; glossy. Spur color: Close to            NN155D variably tinged with close to 144A.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 3.7 cm. Diameter: About 2.5 mm.            Angle: About 45° to 90° from vertical. Strength: Strong;            flexible. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; glossy.            Color: Close to 144A.        -   Reproductive organs.—To date, reproductive organs have not            been observed on plants of the new Impatiens. Seeds and            fruits: To date, seed and fruit production has not been            observed on plants of the new Impatiens.-   Pathogen & pest resistance: To date, plants of the new Impatiens    have not been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common    to Impatiens plants.-   Garden performance: Plants of the new Impatiens have been observed    to have good garden performance and tolerate temperatures ranging    from about 5° C. to about 40° C.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Impatiens plant named ‘Dongiwirowhi20’ as illustrated and described.